Don't have an account with us?

Your Miami Real Estate Search Starts HERE!

Home Buyers Guide for Miami area Real Estate.

Home Buyers Guide to South Florida Real Estate Market. Get the Home Buyers Guide for Miami Real Estate Market. See Florida specific Home Buyers Guide. This Home Buyers Guide was put together to help buyers in North Miami and South Florida area yet it still can be used as a reference regardless where you live. Buying a home should be fun, not stressful. As you look for your dream home, keep in mind these tips in our Homes Buyers Guide for making the process as peaceful as possible. Finding house takes time but finding the right home for you takes even more time. So get prepared to make a list of items and things that are important to you. List the musts and list the wants and be prepared. Good Luck. See properties in South Florida See Listings in Other Cities

1. Find a real estate agent who you connect with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment but also an emotional one. It’s critical that the REALTOR® you chose is both highly skilled and a good fit with your personality.

When is the Right Time to Buy

2. Remember, there’s no “right” time to buy, just as there’s no perfect time to sell. If you find a home now, don’t try to second-guess interest rates or the housing market by waiting longer — you risk losing out on the home of your dreams. The housing market usually doesn’t change fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home won’t stay on the market long.

3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas from too many people will make it much harder to make a decision. Focus on the wants and needs of your immediate family — the people who will be living in the home.

4. Accept that no house is ever perfect. If it’s in the right location, the yard may be a bit smaller than you had hoped for. The kitchen may be perfect, but the roof needs repair. Make a list of your top priorities and focus in on things that are most important to you. Let the minor ones go.

Negotiating Process

5. Don’t try to be a killer negotiator. Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra-low price or by refusing to budge on your offer may cost you the home you love. Negotiation involves a little of giving and take.

6. Remember your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself — room size, kitchen, etc. — that you forget about important issues as noise level, location to amenities, and other aspects that also have a big impact on your quality of life.

7. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage, investigate home insurance, and consider a schedule for moving. Presenting an offer contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive to sellers.

8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post-home buying budget. Even if you buy a new home, there will be costs. Don’t leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.

Buyers Remorse

9. Accept that a little buyer’s remorse is inevitable and will probably pass. Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big financial commitment. But it also yields big benefits. Don’t lose sight of why you wanted to buy a home and what made you fall in love with the property you purchased.

10. Choose a home first because you love it; then think about appreciation. While U.S. homes have appreciated an average of 5.4 percent annually over from 1998 to 2002, a home’s most important role is to serve as a comfortable, safe place to live.

* This home buyers guide is for reference use only as an example, it is not intended to be used as a rule of thumb or legal advice just to help guide and help the potential buyer with the purchasing process.

Some Creative Ideas for Buying a Home

1. Look into local, state national down payment assistance programs. Designed for qualified applicants these loans and grants cover all or part of required down payment. Programs like the Nehemiah program, www.getdownpayment.com, and the American Dream Down Payment Fund from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, www.hud.gov.

2. Also more popular during buyers market, in some cases, sellers may be willing to finance all or part of the purchase price of the home and let you repay them gradually, just as you would do with a mortgage.

3. Shared-appreciation or shared-equity arrangement. With this arrangement, family, friends, or even a third-party may buy a portion of the home and share in any appreciation when the home is sold. The owner/occupant usually pays the mortgage, property taxes, and maintenance costs, but all the investors’ names are usually on the mortgage. Companies are available that can help you find such an investor if your family can’t participate.

4. Your family may help. A family member may loan you money for the down payment or act as a co-signer for the mortgage. Lenders often like to have a co-signer if you have a little credit history.

5. Lease to own option. Leasing or renting for a year or more will give you the chance to save more for your down payment. In many cases, owners will apply some of the rental amounts toward the purchase price. You usually have to pay a small, nonrefundable option fee to the owner.

6. Short-term second mortgage option. If you can qualify for a short-term second mortgage, this would give you money to make a larger down payment. This may be possible if you’re in good financial standing, with a strong income and little other debt.

* This home buyers guide is for reference use only as an example, it is not intended to be used as a rule of thumb or legal advice just to help guide and help the potential buyer with the purchasing process.

10 Ways to Prepare for Home Ownership

1. Decide what you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.

2. Develop your home wish list. Then, prioritize the features on your list.

Selecting the Area

3. Select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.

4. Start saving. Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mortgage and cover your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20 percent of the purchase price saved as a down payment. Also, don’t forget to factor in closing costs. Closing costs — including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees — average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.

5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct any errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.

Can We Afford This

6. Determine your mortgage qualifications. How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options — such as 30-year or 15-year fixed mortgages or ARMs — and decide what’s best for you.

7. Get pre-approved or pre-qualified. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to pre-approve you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of at least one pay stub, account numbers, and copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements.

Seller Assist and Lender Assist

8. Weigh other sources of help with a down payment. Do you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment assistance programs? Check with your state and local government on down payment assistance programs for first-time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA account, you can use the money you’ve saved to buy your first home without paying a penalty for early withdrawal.

9. Calculate the costs of home-ownership. This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if applicable.

10. Contact a REALTOR®. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help and guide you through the process.

* This home buyers guide is for reference use only to be used as an example, it is not intended to be used as a rule of thumb or legal advice just to help guide and help a potential buyer with the purchasing process.

7 Reasons to Own Your Home

1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home.

2. Appreciation. Real Estate has long-term, stable growth in value. While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, median existing-home sale prices have increased on average 6.5 percent each year from 1972 through 2005, and increased 88.5 percent over the last 10 years, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. In addition, the number of U.S. households is expected to rise 15 percent over the next decade, creating continued high demand for housing.

3. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home.

Home Ownership Benefits

4. Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as gain without owing any federal income tax.

5. Predictability. Unlike rent, your fixed-mortgage payments don’t rise over the years so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will increase.

6. Freedom. The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and benefit from your investment for as long as you own the home.

Stability and Freedom

7. Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and offers your children the benefit of educational continuity.

* This home buyers guide is for reference use only as an example, it is not intended to be used as a rule of thumb or legal advice just to help guide and help a potential buyer with the purchasing process.